Friday 56: Dead Man's Drive

Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice.  Click here to join in on the fun.

Rules: Grab a book, any book.

Turn to page 56, or 56% in your eReader.

Find a sentence, or a few, and post it.

This week I'm highlighting Dead Man's Drive by Michael Panush.  I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Here's the description taken from Goodreads:

La Cruz looks like an average Southern California small town in the 1950s Post-War Boom, but it has some dark secrets - and its guardians. They are the supernaturally adept drivers of Donovan Motors, including former Okie bank robber Wooster Stokes, Zoot Suiter and part time shaman Angel Rey, college girl and burgeoning sorceress Betty Bright and --their latest member -- an amnesiac zombie known only as Roscoe. The drivers stand between La Cruz and chaos with only their wits and some fast hot rods to help them hold back the darkness. But an onslaught of demonic attacks heralds a new danger. Reed Strickland, a ruthless tycoon with unholy assistance, seems intent on making La Cruz his. Only Roscoe and the drivers can stop him. But Strickland's allies stir painful memories in Roscoe and even an undead gearhead is no match for his own past. Roscoe will need to overcome his memories, stand with his friends and keep his motor as the battle for La Cruz begins in a tale of white hot vehicular action, arcane Noir, and Hollywood horror that reveals the rotten heart of California's Golden Age.

From page 56 of Dead Man's Drive:

The bird swept down, its clawed feet extended. They wrapped around Felix's side. One pointed claw dug into his shoulder, drawing blood.

Book Review: Dead Man's Drive (Rot Roads, #1)

Author: Michael Panush

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Edition: Received from the publisher, Curiosity Quills

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Buy Links: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Book Depository

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Rating: 4 Stars

I received a copy of Dead Man's Drive from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Dead Man's Drive follows the main character, Roscoe, a zombie, who works with Donovan's Motors, a group of paranormal hunting mechanics.  It's a group made up of outcasts who have become family.  They're well-known in their town as protectors, but when a new businessman comes to town with plans of his own- plans that involve raising dead crusaders- everything Roscoe has ever cared about is threatened.

I liked this book a lot more than I thought I would.  I mean, I thought I would like it when I requested it (or I wouldn't have requested it), but it took me by surprise, still.  The main character, Roscoe, was not what I expected (in good ways!) and neither were the supporting cast, the plot, or the setting.  It was a pleasant surprise.

Dead Man's Drive is urban fantasy lite.  It doesn't do a ton of world building, but it also doesn't suffer for it.  Panush didn't have to create complex mythologies to deliver an interesting and well-thought-out plot.  While his story isn't exactly original, it kept me entertained and was rather refreshing in its sparse writing.  The characters, while not given much screen time (it's a very short book), all had interesting backstories that made them feel fleshed out.  I liked how every single character had a voice, and no one was pushed to the side.

My biggest problem, and the reason this doesn't have more stars, is that the climax was not very climatic.  Sure, lots of time was spent on it, by which I mean there were many pages dedicated to the event.  However, the actual action that I would qualify as the actual climax point, was weak.  It could be a lot more polished and there could be a great deal more emotion.  Even still, it did deliver, and ended up being satisfying.

I recommend this one if you need some light reading at any point.  It doesn't require much work on the part of the reader and is very entertaining.